Palmerston North, Manawatu-Whanganui Map
Explore Palmerston North, Manawatu-Whanganui, New Zealand, with this interactive street and satellite map. You can “grab” the Palmerston North map and move it around to re-centre it. You can change between standard map view and satellite map view by clicking the small square in the bottom left-hand corner of the map. You can use the zoom buttons on the lower right side of the map to zoom in or out to street-level detail.
This page also offers TOPO MAPS — the official LINZ topographic sheets — plus LINZ aerial imagery, an OpenStreetMap search for anywhere in New Zealand, a GPS grid-reference readout and turn-by-turn driving directions. See How to Use This Map below. You will find live weather, local and world news further down the page.
Interactive Map of Palmerston North, Manawatu-Whanganui
How to Use This Palmerston North, Manawatu-Whanganui Map
This interactive map shows the street layout and satellite imagery for Palmerston North, Manawatu-Whanganui. Use the Map and Satellite buttons above to switch between street map and aerial imagery views. Use the + and − buttons to zoom in or out, or scroll your mouse wheel while holding the Control key to zoom. On a touchscreen, use a two-finger pinch gesture to zoom in and out. Drag the map to pan to any area of Manawatu-Whanganui or beyond.
Click ⛶ Fullscreen to expand the map to fill your screen for a larger view. To return to the normal page view, press the Escape key on your keyboard, click the ✕ Exit Fullscreen button that appears above the map, or on a mobile device tap the back button (Android) or the close icon (iOS).
TOPO MAPS — NEW. Click the green 🔍 Search Maps button below the map to open a second map with a Base map row offering three choices. OSM is the standard OpenStreetMap street map. Topo shows the official LINZ topographic maps — the Topo250 and Topo50 sheets used for tramping, hunting, hut access and back-country navigation, switching scale automatically as you zoom in. Aerial shows LINZ aerial imagery, down to 5cm resolution in urban areas. The search box above the map finds any New Zealand town, suburb or landmark by name, so you are not limited to Palmerston North.
Click 📍 My position in that same panel to take a single GPS reading from your device. It marks where you are, shows your accuracy, and reports your position as an NZTM2000 grid reference as well as plain latitude and longitude. The NZTM grid reference is the format New Zealand search and rescue services work from, and there is a Copy position button so you can paste it straight into a text message. It takes one reading and stops, rather than tracking continuously, to conserve your battery. Note that map tiles need mobile coverage, but a GPS reading does not — your coordinates stay correct even in places where the map itself cannot load.
The blue 📍 My Location & Navigate button starts live turn-by-turn driving directions from wherever you are to any destination you enter, with spoken guidance, lane hints and automatic re-routing if you leave the route.
Map search is available for a limited number of queries per session to manage costs. Be specific — search precisely for best results.
| Locality | Palmerston North |
| Region | Manawatu-Whanganui |
| Country | New Zealand |
| Timezone | New Zealand Time (NZST/NZDT) |
| Remoteness | Main Urban Area |
| Latitude | -40.35636 |
| Longitude | 175.61113 |
| Population | 90,500 |
| Elevation | 34 m |
| Area Code | 06 |
About Palmerston North, Manawatu-Whanganui
Palmerston North is a locality in the Manawatu-Whanganui Region of New Zealand. With a population of 90,500, Palmerston North is a major urban centre in the Manawatu-Whanganui Region. It sits at an elevation of around 34 m above sea level. Palmerston North is the capital of the Manawatu-Whanganui Region. Palmerston North is located at 40.3564°S, 175.6111°E. It observes New Zealand Time (NZST/NZDT). Statistics New Zealand classifies the area as a main urban area.
Palmerston North rests on the fertile plains of the Manawatū-Whanganui Region, a place where the land stretches out with a quiet, expansive grace. It lies 67.0 km south-east of Whanganui (from Whanganui: bearing 135°T), and is situated 2.0 km west-north-west of Hokowhitu. The physical character of Palmerston North is defined by its inland position, approximately 85 kilometres from the nearest coastline, a distance that shapes its air and atmosphere, imbuing it with a grounded, terrestrial quality. Instead of the tang of salt, one might notice the scent of damp earth after a rain, or the clean, crispness of air that has travelled over farmland and rolling hills. The Manawatū River, a mere 7 kilometres distant, provides a vital waterway, its presence a constant murmur in the landscape, while the nearby Karere Lagoon offers a tranquil, reflective counterpoint. The horizon is often punctuated by the gentle rise and fall of the land, hinting at the broader topography without the dramatic pronouncements of high mountains, though the distant Island Ridge offers a subtle elevation on the far horizon.
The genesis of Palmerston North is rooted in the ambitious land development schemes of the mid-19th century, a deliberate effort to tame and cultivate the rich soils of the Manawatū. Established as a government-sponsored settlement, its early days were marked by the arduous work of clearing native bush and establishing farms, a testament to the pioneering spirit that shaped so much of New Zealand. The name itself honours Lord Palmerston, the British Prime Minister at the time, a reminder of the colonial ties that bound this new land to the old world. From these humble beginnings, Palmerston North grew organically, its development mirroring the steady accumulation of agricultural wealth and the burgeoning needs of a growing population, each generation adding its layer to the town's unfolding narrative.
The economic engine of Palmerston North hums with a distinct rhythm, deeply connected to its agricultural heartland and its role as a significant educational and research centre. Dairy farming remains a cornerstone, its influence visible in the verdant pastures that surround the city and the processing plants that dot the wider region. Beyond agriculture, Palmerston North is a hub for innovation and learning, most notably through Massey University, a national institution whose presence infuses the city with a youthful intellectual energy and a strong research focus, particularly in fields like veterinary science and agriculture. This academic vigour is complemented by robust infrastructure, including a well-connected road and rail network, facilitating the transport of goods and people, and supporting a diverse range of industries from manufacturing to technology.
The cultural fabric of Palmerston North is a blend of its provincial roots and its modern aspirations, a place where community spirit often finds expression through shared passions. While not a primary centre for professional sports, the spirit of competition is alive and well in the local rugby scene, with provincial teams embodying the fierce loyalty of the region. Major annual events, such as agricultural shows and local festivals, draw people together, celebrating the bounty of the land and the warmth of community life. The Esplanade, a cherished local park, offers a green lung within the city, a place for recreation and quiet contemplation. Though not home to globally recognised landmarks or natural wonders on the scale of some of New Zealand's more dramatic landscapes, Palmerston North offers a genuine sense of place, a quiet dignity that resonates with its inhabitants and the travellers who pass through.
Nearby Places to Explore — Palmerston North, Manawatu-Whanganui
Featured Attractions
Museum · 0.3 km W
Museum · 0.3 km WNW
Heritage Building · 0.3 km W
Landmark · 0.3 km W
Botanic Garden · 1.0 km SSE
Nature Reserve / Park · 2 km SE
Nature Reserve / Park · 2 km SSE
Nature Reserve / Park · 8 km NE
Other Nearby Places
Monument / Memorial · 0.0 km N
Public Artwork · 0.2 km WSW
Cinema · 0.3 km NE
Gallery · 0.3 km WSW
Museum · 0.3 km SW
Park · 1 km S
Public Artwork · 1 km WSW
Recreation Reserve · 2 km WSW
Historic Ruins · 3 km SE
Recreation Reserve · 3 km SE · 1 ha
Stewardship Area · 3 km W · 2 ha
Lookout / Viewpoint · 3 km SSW
Lookout / Viewpoint · 4 km SSW
Monument / Memorial · 4 km SW
Park · 5 km SSW
Historic Ruins · 6 km SSW
Attraction · 6 km WSW
Scenic Reserve · 7 km S · 3 ha
Hill · 8 km SE
Stewardship Area · 8 km W · 2 ha
Lake · 9 km WSW
Park · 9 km S
Lake · 9 km SSE
Mountain · 10 km S
Forest · 11 km E
Scenic Reserve · 14 km NNW · 11 ha
Scenic Reserve · 16 km ENE · 606 ha
Scientific Reserve · 22 km WSW · 19 ha
Historic Reserve · 31 km SSE
Scientific Reserve · 32 km W · 24 ha
Conservation Park · 51 km SSW · 114,903 ha
Ecological Area · 54 km SSW · 1,636 ha
Sources: curated tourist landmarks, DOC Public Conservation Areas (LINZ), GeoNames Gazetteer, OpenStreetMap.
Latest News: Palmerston North
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World News
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About This Palmerston North Map Page
This page provides an embedded street and satellite map of Palmerston North, Manawatu-Whanganui, New Zealand at coordinates -40.35636, 175.61113. Use the Map and Satellite buttons to switch views, the plus and minus buttons to zoom, and Fullscreen to fill the screen.
Search Maps opens a second, independent map with four things the embedded map cannot do. It searches OpenStreetMap for any New Zealand town, suburb or landmark by name. It offers LINZ topographic maps as a base layer — the official Topo250 and Topo50 sheets, switching scale automatically as you zoom, and the standard reference for tramping, hunting and back-country travel. It offers LINZ aerial imagery down to 5cm resolution in urban areas. And it can take a single GPS fix from your device and report your position as both an NZTM2000 grid reference and plain latitude and longitude — the grid reference being what New Zealand search and rescue services work from. Map tiles require mobile coverage, but a GPS position does not, so the coordinates remain correct even where the map itself cannot load.
My Location & Navigate starts the vector-tile navigator: live turn-by-turn driving directions from your current position to any destination, with spoken guidance, lane hints and automatic re-routing.
Live weather conditions with current observations and a 7-day forecast are powered by Open-Meteo. Real-time New Zealand and world news feeds keep the page current, while an editorial description provides background on Palmerston North.
Palmerston North sits within the Manawatu-Whanganui Region. Location data is drawn from the GeoNames geographical database and verified by coordinates, ensuring the correct Palmerston North is identified even where the name is shared across multiple New Zealand localities.
| Page generated | September 2026 |
| Location data | GeoNames Gazetteer (CC BY 4.0), Stats NZ regional and urban-rural classifications |
| Description | Editorial description generated from verified location data. |
| Map layers | Google Maps; © OpenStreetMap contributors; LINZ Basemaps topographic and aerial imagery, sourced from Toitū Te Whenua LINZ (CC BY 4.0) |
